Potential of social network and internet media for biodiversity mapping and conservation

Internet and digital technology has revo-lutionized the rate and efficiency with which data and knowledge are transmit-ted and shared among people. In particu-lar, the social media such as Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Flickr, e-mail discus-sion groups, etc.1, has shrunk the com-munication space like never before and has turned out to be powerful agents for obtaining rapid news updates. Their rela-tively easy access through computers, mobile phones and a host of other gad-gets have made these very user friendly so much so they are probably the most frequently used technologies today. No wonder then an army of social network-ing sites are set afoot that transmit and share information on almost infinite number of issues ranging from archae-ology to zoology or from sighting traffic offenders to stars in the night sky. Here, I discuss a specific case of how social network and Internet media can effec-tively be used in biodiversity mapping and conservation

First report of Micrixalus nudis (Amphibia: Ranidae) from Karnataka, India

The Western Ghats is one of the “hotspots” of biological diversity with high endemicity (Myers, et. al., 2000). About 123 species of amphibians (60% of the total species count for India) are found in the Western Ghats of which 93 species are endemic (Daniels, 1992; 1997a; Molur and Walker, 1998

Need for national policy to recover endangered species

India is bestowed with world’s four mega-biodiversity hotspots. In fact, India is the only country that is blessed so many of these biodiversity regions. However, this rich biodiversity is under severe threat owing to the increasing population as well as indiscriminate extraction from natural populations. Unplanned land use in the name of economic development have rendered a number of species in the under the threatened category. In the most recent update, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2016) assigned a total of 1052 species as red listed. Of these, 75 animals and 77 plants are in the critically endangered list with many others being in the endangered and vulnerable categories. What is even more worrying is the fact that a large number of species have been reduced to incredibly small numbers due to either habitat degradation or illegal hunting/harvesting. Unless immediate measures are taken up, a number of these species could be in the red-list within a matter of few years. Unfortunately as of now, except for few attempts, there has been no concerted program in the country to address the restoration of the threatened species

Reply to Global high-altitude limits for amphibians by Tracie A. Seimon and Anton Seimon (2015)

High altitude records of amphibians in the age of Climate Change With the problem of global warming looming large on our planet the existence of many species are under threat. Researchers are racing to bring in new information on the impact of climate change on global biodiversity (Walther et al. 2002; Parmesan & Yohe 2003; Campbell et al. 2009; Xu et al. 2009; Bellard et al. 2012; Gottfried et al. 2012; Shrestha et al. 2012). There have been a large number of studies that have documented range shifts of species due to climate change (Walther et al. 2005; Araujo & Rahbek 2006; Hickling et al. 2006; Chen et al. 2011). The new records on altitude of both flora and fauna as a result of range extension due to climate change have become quite frequent. In this context, we agree with Seimon et al. (2015) who have neatly summarized the three problems on new findings about altitude records in their Response to our paper (Subba et al. 2015). Furthermore, we agree with authors that often vital data may be hidden within other larger issues; as a result missing out on relevant data seems to be a reoccurring problem (Seimon et al. 2007a). In this age of easy access to information and an era where scientists and citizens are coming together to bridge the gap in information, there is a need to make the data easily available and visible. New records should also be followed by the exact location (latitude - longitude) where the species was observed or collected along with the stage of development

Linking kids and conservation: some thoughts on the vacation training programme

In urban areas the most convenient way to relate with nature, especially among urban kids is to watch ‘nature television’ or during the occasional visit to a zoo or national park. To make kids aware of nature and its conservation, ‘environmental education’ courses are included in the curricula, but the way these are taught has however been deplorable, with no connection to the real environment. Introducing students to bio-resources conservation at the secondary school level in a semi-structured but non-formal ambience with activities that promote observations, interactions and learning is needed to excite young minds towards conservation of our natural resources. Non-destructive field-based activities need to be designed and students made to observe nature, ask questions about what they see, discuss with scientists, elders and peers. Such activities also need to focus on the environment that the students are exposed to and provide opportunities for them to engage and relate with it

Scaling new heights: first record of Boulenger’s Lazy Toad Scutiger boulengeri (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae) from high altitude lake in Sikkim Himalaya, India

Frogs in the genus Scutiger of the family Megophryidae are the highest altitude frogs in the world, and are endemic to eastern Himalaya. Here, we report the occurrence of Scutiger boulengeri (Bedriaga, 1898) in one of the highest altitude lakes in the world, Lake Gurudongmar. This is the first report of Scutiger boulengeri from India and the first record of any amphibian species to be found at an altitude as high as 5270m, thus setting a world record for the highest altitude frog. Scutiger sikimmensis (Blyth, 1855) is another species of the genus Scutiger found in this region. This species is often confused with Scutiger boulengeri due to similar morphology and habitat overlap. We provide a detailed account of both S. boulengeri and S. sikimmensis based on morphology and molecular identification techniques

Of the hunter and the hunted

Ramadevara Betta in Ramanagara is home to the critically- endangered long-billed vulture. But tourism and widlife photography seem to be doing a lot of harm to the region’s birdlife. The Forest Department’s recent announcement to turn the area into a vulture sanctuary could help

Land snails (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of India: status, threats and conservation strategies

Land snails form an important component in the forest ecosystem. In terms of number of species, the phylum Mollusca, to which land snails belong, is the largest phylum after Arthropoda. Mollusca provide unique ecosystem services including recycling of nutrients and they provide a prey base for small mammals, birds, snakes and other reptiles. However, land snails have the largest number of documented extinctions, compared to any other taxa. Till date 1,129 species of land snails are recorded from Indian territory. But only basic information is known about their taxonomy and little is known of their population biology, ecology and their conservation status. In this paper, we briefly review status, threats and conservation strategies of land snails of India

Effect of Climate Change on Invasion Risk of Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica Férussac, 1821: Achatinidae) in India

The Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica) is considered to be one the world’s 100 worst invasive alien species. The snail has an impact on native biodiversity, and on agricultural and horticultural crops. In India, it is known to feed on more than fifty species of native plants and agricultural crops and also outcompetes the native snails. It was introduced into India in 1847 and since then it has spread all across the country. In this paper, we use ecological niche modeling (ENM) to assess the distribution pattern of Giant African Snail (GAS) under different climate change scenarios. The niche modeling results indicate that under the current climate scenario, Eastern India, peninsular India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are at high risk of invasion. The three different future climate scenarios show that there is no significant change in the geographical distribution of invasion prone areas. However, certain currently invaded areas will be more prone to invasion in the future. These regions include parts of Bihar, Southern Karnataka, parts of Gujarat and Assam. The Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands are highly vulnerable to invasion under changed climate. The Central Indian region is at low risk due to high temperature and low rainfall. An understanding of the invasion pattern can help in better management of this invasive species and also in formulating policies for its control

Assigning conservation value and identifying hotspots of endemic rattan diversity in the Western Ghats, India

Rattans, or canes, are one of the most important non-timber forest products supporting the livelihood of many forest-dwelling communities in South and North-eastern India. Due to increased demand for rattan products, rattans have been extracted indiscriminately from the Western Ghats, a 1600-km mountain chain running parallel to the west coast of India. Extensive harvesting, loss of habitat and poor regeneration has resulted in dwindling rattan populations, necessitating an urgent attempt to conserve existing rattan resources. In this study, using niche-modelling tools, an attempt has been made to identify areas of high species richness of rattans in the Western Ghats, one of the mega-diversity regions of the world. We have also developed conservation values for 21 economically important and endemic rattans of the Western Ghats. We identified at least two to three sites of extremely high species richness outside the existing protected area network that should be prioritized for in situ conservation. This study emphasizes the need to develop strategies for the long-term conservation of rattans in the Western Ghats, Indi